An executive of the company developing the Kakona luxury resort in South Abaco said the project will have positive impacts for South Abaco residents, adding that he shares the same concerns with various environmental groups.

Thomas Boynton, chief financial officer of the South Abaco Land Development Corporation (SALDCO), said at a town hall meeting attended by South Abaco residents that the development will be done in three areas. The first will be Leeward Harbor, adjacent to Sandy Point airport, encompassing 105 acres and a 39-acre marina; Along with a boutique hotel consisting of 25 beach bungalows and 50 harbor houses. Leeward Harbor will also have 50 apartments, 10 villas and 240 wet slides.

The second project site will be the 503-acre High Bank Bay on the east coast of South Abaco, five miles north of Hole in the Wall. This will be the sports club of your golf course community, with a golf course clubhouse as well as 165 homes, a hotel component, and a driving range.

The third site is Conch Sound Point, which will feature a small, branded residence club with 100 estate homes, as well as a golf driving range.

The Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) shared concerns about the project’s impact on bonefish spawning grounds in Cross Harbor. The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) said it categorically opposes the project due to fears of harm to Cross Harbor in addition to potential loss of habitat for the Abaco parrot and several other bird species.

Boynton told Protective Business He said SALDCO “shares the same environmental concerns” and is working closely with both parties to reduce potential animal habitat loss, as potential guests of Kakona will want to come there to see the same flora and fauna that are being protected.

“I spoke to the gentleman from BTT earlier this year and, in my opinion, his article was neither damning nor completely opposed to our project,” Boynton said.

In a statement to the media, BTT said it was “deeply concerned about the potential impact of the proposed Kakona project on important bonefish habitats near Cross Harbor, Abaco.” These areas contain one of the largest and most important prespawning aggregation (PSA) areas for bonefish in the Bahamas; Abaco, Andros are habitats that support rich bonefishing economies in Grand Bahama and throughout the country.

Boynton added: “BTT raised some valid concerns. We contacted them to arrange a meeting and did so before the public hearing on Thursday evening. With all due respect to the lady who spoke on behalf of BNT, she did not know all the facts. “Mr (Eric) Carey’s opinion of BNT We’ve talked to BNT many times over the years he’s been president, and a few years ago, after we started working, what is the design we’re seeing now?

“We had meetings with BNT. It’s not like we didn’t talk to them, but they never came out and said we approved your project or anything like that. So I won’t say that.

“But you know they have real concerns about preserving the park and we respect that. “The things these NGOs are worried about are the same things we are worried about because everyone who comes to the resort wants to see the natural beauty of South Abaco.”